A new discount supermarket is set to be built in Chipping Norton after plans were approved today.

West Oxfordshire District Council approved the proposal to build an Aldi store in the former Highways Depot site at Cromwell Business Park, off Banbury Road.

There were concerns from the Midcounties Co-operative that it could affect trade in the town centre.

Councillor Warwick Robinson said towns like Abingdon and Bicester had suffered from building out of town shopping centres.

He added: "I fear it could have a negative impact on the vitality and vibrancy on the centre of Chipping Norton."

But Mayor of Chipping Norton Mike Tysoe said a poll showed 70 per cent of residents wanted it, adding: “The town needs it.”

The uplands planning committee were approved of being “cowards” by a member of the public after approving plans from Pye Homes to build 58 homes, half of which will be made affordable, in Woodstock.

About 1,200 residents had objected to the application, saying it will take away a field used by sports teams and dog walkers, while adding to traffic problems.

Councillors voted it through fearing they would lose £560,000 in developer funding if the application was lost in an appeal.

Derek Cotterill said: "Having 58 units here is not desirable but 2,000 properties in Carterton isn't desirable either.

"We have a pistol to our heads."

Meanwhile, plans to build 25 homes and convert an agricultural building into an office in Grove Road, Bladon, were refused because the site is in the Oxford Green Belt.

The committee said it would welcome new plans.




MORE: